Ambala, March 27
Some unidentified youths set three motorcycles of police officials on fire at the police post number 3 this morning. Two of the bikes were parked just close to the entrance to the police post.

The matter was brought to the notice of senior police officers. Forensic experts collected samples from the spot.

Fire at factory

Tyres and goods worth Rs 15 lakh were destroyed in a fire that broke out at a factory near Manav Chowk at Ambala City this morning. Five fire tenders were pressed into service. It took them four hours to douse the flames.

One of the co-owners of the factory Karan Kumar said 2 quintals of iron rods were missing from the factory.

He said the reason behind the fire could not be be ascertained so far.
— OC

Chandigarh, March 27
After setting a precedent by ordering the removal of tents for the security of the judges, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the UT authorities to remove the tents pitched in the High Court’s green belt.

For the purpose, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover gave the authorities 24 hours. The tents have been pitched by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel deployed at the High Court.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the State of Punjab told the Bench that remaining six tents, pitched by the central agencies like the ITBP and CRPF outside the houses of Punjab VVIPs in Chandigarh, have been removed.

The pictures of the greenbelts from where such tents have been removed were also produced before the Bench. As of now, service lane tents remain.

In July 2009, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of a news-report “Who’ll bell the cat” carried in these columns on the violations by the bigwigs in government accommodations.

Nearly three years later, the Chandigarh Administration claimed the removal of all security tents pitched outside the houses of bureaucrats, politicians and other high ups on designated green belts.

Justice Ranjit Singh had earlier asserted, “No one is above law, however so high he or she may be placed. The Chandigarh Administration needs to be asked to perform its functions in accordance with law”.

Justice Ranjit Singh had also directed the issuance of notice to the Union Territory of Chandigarh through its Administrator “to show cause as to why these illegal encroachments etc. be not removed”.

In an apparent attempt to prevent the encroachers from getting away with the illegalities, Justice Ranjit Singh in his detailed order had also made it clear to the administration to ensure all violating officer were brought under the ambit of law.

Various violations by influential officials or officers in the government accommodation allotted to them have been highlighted in the news-item, along with the photographs showing the illegal encroachments or constructions carried out by them.

“The Chandigarh Administration will also carry out checks and report, if any such illegal construction or encroachment had been carried by any other official or officer in government houses allotted to them in Chandigarh”.

Chandigarh, March 27
Acting on a plea alleging that a counsel who appeared on behalf of the CBI in court yesterday was authorised to contest the case, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge issued a notice to CBI to file a reply by March 30.

Advocate Arvind Thakur moved a plea in court against an advocate who appeared on behalf of the CBI yesterday while opposing the plea of jail superintendent that they could not hang Rajoana.
— TNS

Panchkula, March 27
The vigilance department caught an Executive Engineer (XEN) with the PWD (B&R) in Haryana taking Rs 10,000 as bribe from a contractor at his office near the Majri chowk here today.

After receiving a complaint, the vigilance department laid a trap to nab the XEN, who had demanded the amount for clearing bills of the contractor, worth lakhs, pending with the PWD.

Rajesh Chaudhary of Baltana village in Zirakpur had been working as contractor for the last couple of years. An amount of Rs 3 lakh was pending with the PWD for the last few months.

After moving from pillar to post to get his cheque cleared, he submitted a complaint to SP (vigilance) Hemant Kalsan, stating that XEN Rajesh Kumar Yadav had been demanding money to clear his bills.

The complaint was marked to the Panchkula wing of the vigilance department, which decided to lay a trap to nab the officer red-handed.

The investigating officer, inspector Mahavir Sandhu, said the contractor agreed to pay the amount and the XEN told him come to his office at the Majri chowk this morning.

The contractor reached the office of the XEN and as soon as he gave the officer the first instalment of Rs 10,000, vigilance officials raided the office and caught the XEN red-handed.

The investigating officer said the accused was a native of Rewari and had been staying at Sector 11 here at present. A case under various sections of the prevention of corruption Act was registered. The XEN would be produced in court tomorrow.

3 soccer players prove mettle
Make it to U-14 squad after performing well in National GamesDeepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
Soccer players might have suffered humiliation due to the apathetic attitude of the officials, but they continue to bring laurels to the City Beautiful.

In a recent development, three players of the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA) have made it to the nation’s boys (U-14) squad after giving their best performance in the recently held National Games.

Doing the city proud, half-backs Ramdin, Vikram and right-in Samuel have successfully booked their place in the probables’ list and will leave the city next week to attend a coaching camp.

“We are happy with our selection in the nation’s squad and hopefully we will make it to the final 16. During the month-long camp, we will undergo a precise practice session, including friendly matches and also foreign trips, so we are looking forward to it,” said the players.

The camp will be held at Kalyani (Kolkata) from next week and the players will leave the city soon. “For the past many years our senior players have been representing the nation and now it is my turn to make my city and academy proud. I will put in efforts to make it to the final list,” said Vikram.

“We will share the same platform and hopefully we will together represent the nation. We have got an opportunity to prove our mettle in the game,” said Samuel and Ramdin.

On the other hand, their elated coach Harjinder Singh said, “My best wishes are always with them. Our players have made the nation and city proud and I am sure that the academy will continue to produce best players for the country. The players are confident to make it to the final berth and I can assure that they will succeed in their aim,” said Harjinder Singh, coach of the CFA and former captain of Indian football team.